Machine for affixing and canceling postage-stamps.



. B. STEIN. v I MACHINE FOR AFFIXING AND GANGELINGPOSTAGE STAMPS.

APPLIOATIOK FILED MARA, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914,

4 BgiEETB-SHEET l.

R. STEIN.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING AND UANGELING POSTAGE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.4, 1912. 1, 1 00,790.

Patented June 23, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. STEIN.

MAGHINE FOR APHXING AND GANGELING POSTAGE STAMPS.

APPLIOATION I'ILBD MARA, 1912. I 1,100,790. Patented June 23, 19M

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. STEIN.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING AND GANGELING POSTAGE STAMPS.

4 BHBET 4' APPLICATION FILED HARM}, 1912. 1,100,790. Patented June 23,

M f V RUDOLF STEIIN', OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,

GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF MICHELIUS, G. M. B. H.,'0F FRANKFORT-ON-THE-.MAIN, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING- AND (DANCE-LING POSTAGE-STAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914. 1

Application filed March 4, 912. Serial'No. 681,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF STEIN, a subject of the German Emperor, and resident of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Affixing and Canceling Postage-Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for automatically aflixing stamps to postal matter and'for automatically canceling the same after they have been afiixed to the postal matter or while they are being-aflixed. According to the invention the envelop's or the like to be franked are carried on an endless subdivided conveying band which is provided with sub-divided supports for the postal matter. I With the endless band cooperate a number of stamp boxes prefer ably mounted 'on an axis which boxes are each provided with a severing device. To.

the right hand of these boxes is mounted on a shaft the canceling device which is of w known form and which may be simplex or duplex. 1

In order to adjust the machine to the size of the envelops and the like to be franked whileavoiding variation of the position of the stamp on t e envelop or the like, there is provided between the mechanism for actuating the endless band and the mechanism for actuating the stamp aflixi'ng and cancel-. ing devices a suitably adjustable clutch. In

.order that the -machine may run idle at starting or atintervals a disengaging mechanism is provided for the stamp severing section on the line AB of and feeding devices which mechanism can be actuated by hand or'automatically and in addition there is provided a device for lifting the roller cooperating with the canceling device.

The invention is illustrated in the aocompanying drawings by way of example.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a side'elevation of the machine with 0116012 13116 side walls removed; Fig. 2 is a part plan part Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section through the stamp box with the severing device. Fig. 4 shows the disengaging mechanism .while Fig. 5 shows the ,disengaging mechanism shown in Fig. 4, but in the position in which the stamp is severed and is affixed to an envelop; Figs. 6 and 7 show the mechanisms for automatically throwing out of and bringing into operawhich :are These supporting bars can be suitably postal matter.

the feed tion the stamp affixing and feeding mechanism (Fig. 7 showing on a larger scale a stamp box alone) and the corresponding device for automatically throwing out of and bringing into operation the canceling mechanism (shown in Figs. 1 and 2). Fig. 8 1s a partial vertical axial section through a casing 83 when in Vertical position accord- .ing to Fig. 6 and shows the means for automatically throwing in and out of position the means for actuating the severing device,

on a larger scale. 1

Within the casing 1, and extending across the same, are shafts 2, one on the left, and

one on the right, each of which shafts is fitted with a roller 3 around which pass endless bands' 4.- In these are provided at equal distances apart, slots, holes or openings 5 by attached supporting bars 6.

adjusted .according to the size of the The endless bands 4 preferably run' from left to right. A chute 7 serves to guide the postal matter to the conveying band. The chute 7 may be provided with a movable rail extending in the direction of the conveying bands so as to be adjustable according to the size of the postal. matter being franked so that thelatter may be fed in the proper position to the conveying bands. Thus all the stamps are applied to the envelops or the like in exactly the same position.

Above the conveying bands 4 in the front wall of the casinml and'in an intermediate wall 8 is mounted a shaft 9 which carries a disk 10. On this disk are detachably mounted four boxes 11, (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) each of which contain a strip of stamps 12, feed rollergl3, stripper 14, counter .15 and severing disk 16. It is understood that eight or even more boxes could be mounted on the disk 10. The stripof stamps passes over roller 13 whichis of known con-' struction and which is fed intermittently by the positively rotated star wheel 18 at each movement through the distance equal to the length of .one stamp and is then brought by the stripper 14 into. a guide between the same and the box 11. To this guide is connected the one. end of the severing device 16- opposite which the wall of the casing is cut away so that it cannot come in contact with the moistener; As a result water is prevented from entering the guide and from causing the stamps to adhere in the guide. The severing device is pivotally mounted at 19 and its, end which is provided with an operating pin 20 which may also be provided with an antifriction roller, cooperates with :1- lug 21 which causes the severing device 16 to vibrate on its pivot 19. The operative face 22 thereof corresponds to the size of a stamp and is provided atthe supply end with spikes 23 which exactly fit the perforations between adjacent stamps and being sharpened at the edges sever (tear off) the stamp lying on the face 22 as soon as the severing device 16 is vibrated.

On the feed roll 13 rubs a contact brush or the like with a terminal 13 which closes the electric circuit of a signaling device as soon as the strip of stamps insulating the brush from the roller is interrupted or as soon as the strip of stamps is completely unrolled.

Beneath the stamp box carrier 10 is arranged a moistener 24 consisting of a strip of felt in a suitable metal frame having a receptacle 25 for water. The moistener 24 is pivotally mounted at 26 and is controlled by a regulatable spring 27 (Fig. 4) which tends to bring the moistening pad against the stamp projecting from the stamp box .30

11 when it'is moved past the 'mo-istener. As the piece offelt which serves to moisten the stamp according to its pressure against the stamp moistens the same more or less, this pressure must be adjusted by means of the regulating screw 28 (Fig. 4) to correspond to the degree of moisture desired. To the right of the moistener and mounted in the casing l is a shaft 29 to which is secured the stamp canceling device 30. This is inked by an inking roller 31. Instead of a simplex conceling device a duplex device may be employed in which case in a 'machine of the construction shown eight stamp boxes would be provided. i

On the shaft 29 is. also mounted a chain wheel 32 which may rotate relatively thereto but is incapable of sliding thereon (Fig. 2) from which chain wheel by means of a chain is driven a chain wheel 33 mounted on the shaft 9 in the present case in the ratio of 4 to 1. The shaft 29 carries in addition a toothed wheel 34 which actuates atoothed wheel 35. This wheel 35 is mount-- ed together with the inking roller '31 on a shaft 35 the ends of which are mounted in The wheel 35: meshes with a toothed wheel 36 which rothe walls of the casing 1.

tates on a pin 37 secured on the rear wall of the casing 1 and which engages with a toothed wheel 38 keyed on the lower shaft 2. When the shaft 29 is rotated the lower shaft 2 is rotated and from this by means of the roller 3 the conveying bands are moved as to the upper stretch from the left toward the right and as to the lower stretch in the reverse direction when the shaft 29 is driven in counterclock-wise direction by means of the hand crank 39 secured thereon.

The chain wheel 32 has on the side remote from the hand crank 39, clutch claws or pins 40 corresponding to recesses or orifices in the clutch disk 42 mounted alongside the same on the shaft 29, which disk is slidable on the shaft 29 but is prevented from rotating relatively thereto by a feather and groove. The hub of this clutch disk is provided with a groove 43 engaged by a fork 44. The fork 44 is mounted on a double armed lever 46 arranged to oscillate on a fulcrum 45 which is fitted to a lug on the intermediate wall of the casing. The said double armed lever 46 can be set by means of the uncoupling rod 47 mounted in the casing 1 whereby the clutch disk 42 is brought into or out of engagement with the clutch pins on the chain wheel 32. hen the members'of the clutch are coupled together the chain wheel 33 is driven by means of the chain from the chain wheel 32 and therewith the stamp box carrier 10 is retated in the same direction as the shaft 29 2'. e. in a co-unterclock-wise direction.

The clutch 32, 40, 42 has for its object the adjustment of the motion of the convoying bands relatively to the stamp box carriers 10. The clutch disk- 42 is for example provided with forty-eight holes spaced at equal intervals in the same circle in which holes may be inserted, suitably, four corresponding pins 40, when the clutch disk 42 is shifted toward the right by means of the rod 47 (Fig. 2). As the four pins 40 are preferably disposed at 90 to each other twelve different positions of the conveying bands relatively to the stamp boxes are pos sible corresponding to j =3O for one feed movement.

Beneath the forwardlv moving stretch of the conveying bands 4, lie two counter pressure rollers 48, 49 the-latter roller 49 being arranged opposite the canceling device 30,

the former roller 48 being disposed opposite the stamp box which is at the time perpendicular to the conveying bands. The roll ers serve as abutments and are secured to vibrating levers 50, 51 which carry projections 52, 53, are secured on pivots 54, in the casing and are pulled by springs 56 toward the upper stretch of the bands. Between the projections 52, 53 lies a rotatable cam or wedge device 57 which is connected with a lever 58. The lever can be moved over a scale 59 the cam 57 being correspondingly rotated and the projections 52, 53 spread apart. The two rollers -49, 19 are correspondingly moved downward i. c. therollers 48, 49 are adjusted for postal matter of increased thickness. Beneath th roller 48 is a receptacle 60 above which is disposed a. stripper 61 carried by the lever 50 which stripper engages a groove 62' in the-roller 48 and removes any stamp-whicln should noenvelop be passingthrough the machine while the machine. is in motion, is applied to the roller instead of to an envelop. The intermediate wall 8 of the cas ing between which and the front wall of the casing the stamp-boxes 11- and the disk 10 are inclosed; carries Withthis wall 1 a cover 64 rotatable about the pivot 63' which cover incloses the rotating disk. 10 and also the stamp boxes 11- on the-upper side and as to one half on the'front, and therefore rests its edge on the front wall 1 of the casing which is raised to thelevel ofthe extremity A of the diameter A-B (Fig.1). The cover 64 may be locked in a" suitable position on the casing by a lock or key to prevent unauthorized access to the-stamp boxes. On the casing l itself andcarried by atransverse member 67 is preferably secured a counter 68 which is driven by projecting pins 7 O-on the bars 6 so as toregister the number of envelops which have passed through the machine. The pins 70 are resiliently mountedv in such manner that they project into the path of the counter wheels 69 only when an enveloprests on the sup porting bar and depresses said pins.

In order that the pins 7 0 may pass freely over the feed rollers 3 and the supporting rollers 48-, 49, grooves 66 are provided therein. In order that on rotation of the shaft 29 and simultaneous rotation of the disk 10 when the machine is running idle, stamps may not needlessly be severed, the lug 21', (Figs. 1 and 6) is mounted on a rod 72 movable in thewall: lof' the casing. The lug 21 can be disengaged so that it does not come in contact with .the vibrating severing devices 16-. In order, however, to prevent rotation of the feed wheel 18 which causes the stamps to be fed forward, the lever 73 rotating the wheel must be moved out of operative position. To this end it is rotata'b'ly mounted at 74 and connected with the rod 72 by a pin 75 mounted on the rod 72. In Fig. 4 the operative position is shown in full lines and in dotted lines is shown the position in which the lug 21 and. thelever 73 are inoperative. On the rod 72 are provided projections 7 6, 77, 78 which correspond to the positions of the rod 72 when fully engaged, when partly engaged, and when completely disengaged. The rear end of the rod 72 is connected with a double armed lever 79 which is mounted at 80, acts on the moistener 24 and is retracted into operative position by a spring 81. In the inoperative position of the lever 73 and of the lug 21 the moistener can be disengaged as the lever 79 according to Fig. 4 presses it back with its upper arm out of the path of the stamps in the stamp box. It is, however, made impossible to disengage the moistener for the purpose of misappropriating stampswhen the feed wheel and severing device are ingear.- Between the lugs onthe rod 72' (pin 65) fo the lever 73 and the lug 72 for the lever 79, there is so much play that the moistener can be brought inte'operativeposition before the severing device abuts'against the lug 21. This has for its object in starting the machine to permit lnoistening of the projecting stamps in thefirst place and thereafter severing the stamp opposite the envelop after complete engagement of the rod 72.

The modus operandi of the above described machine is as follows z-After the bars, which are adjust'ably arranged on the have already passed the moistener 24 are already moistened. On their passage from moistening to affixing a sufficient interval elapses t'o ermit the adhesive to dissolve. When the first stamp box 11 with the projecting moistened stamp is then moved into the aflixing position, the severing device 16 moves toward the engaged lug 21. and separates the stam from the strip which stamp is pressed by t e face 22' of the severing de-' vice firmly on the envelop which at this point, in order to prevent it from yielding 1s held by the supporting roller 48. In the further motion of the conveying bands and of' the stamp box carrying members 9, 10 the feed wheel 18 whichis mounted on the shaft of the feed roller 13 externally of the stamp box 11 on the shaft of the feed roller 13, comes in contact with the lever 73 so that the feed roller feeds another stamp over the severing device 16, 22. This stamp passes in the further movement of the machine over the moistener, while the stamp just aflixedto the frankedenvelop 97 is canceled by the canceling device 30 which also again pressesthe stamp against the envelop or wrapper whereby subsequent unintentional detachment of'the stamp is revented. In the meantime a new postal pac et 97 has been brought over the chute 7 to the conveying bands and at the moment at which the first stamp is canceled, which stamp is held by the supporting roller 49, is located directly in front of the second stamp box 11, the moistened projecting stamp on which is severed in the same manner as previously and is affixed. On further movement of the machine a further stamp is first fed for- 'n'ioistencd, or severed.

ward out of the stamp box and then moistened while the stamp on the second envelo 3 is subsequently canceled and again presse As in the mterval the third stamp affixing device has moved into the ailixing position over a third envelop 97, this is franked in the manner above described, and canceled during the feeding and moistening operations of a further stamp being drawn from the third stamp box. The first envelop 97 is in the interval removed from the machine at the right to a collecting device of known form which collects the stamped and postmarked envelops. The fourth stamp box now comes into operative position and afiixes its stamp to the fourth envelop 97 Which is post marked while this fourth stamp box is guided to the lever 73 for the purpose of feeding a. further stamp and to the moistencr 24., The first stamp affixing device (box 11) now again comes into operative position and the cycle is repeated.

In order to make the machine as shown in Fig. 1 operative, in the first place the stamp boxes 11 which are removably arrangedon a disk 10 are each filled with a roll of stamps and thefree ends .12 of said rolls of stamps aremou-nted on the feed rollers '13. The

boxes arethen attached to the disk." The rod' 72 in its inoperative position so that the disk'lO with the boxes '11 can be rotated withoutthe stamps being fed forward,-

Then the clutch 32,, 4O, 42 adjusted so that the stamps are affixed tothe envelops exactly at the desired position thereon. According to the thickness of the postal matter to be franked, the lever 58 is then adjusted on the scale 59, the supporting rollers 48, 49 being located at a suitable distance from the canceling device l and the operative face 22 of the severing device 16;. Ihereupon the rod 72 is brought into operative position. On rotation of the shaft9iin the first place a stamp is pushed forjv'ard in the stamp box 11 abutting on the "lever 73 and this stampis then moistened.v

to. tion' a stamp is pushed forward from this As no stamp is projecting from the second box the severing device of which now abuts against the lug 21, the second severing de-' vice remains inoperative. On further rota box and moistened. After the third box has passed the lug 21 and the lever 73 the device is ready for use and in the next quarter rotation the fourth stamp box is then rotated over the moistener, while the stamp projecting from the first box can be severed and affixed.

If it be desired to set in motion again a machine which has been set for use and its operation interrupted, in the first place the moistener 24 is alone brought into action which moistener moistens the projecting stamps while the severing device (21, 20, 16) and the feed mechanism (78, 13) are still out of gear. After the same are brought into gear the machine can be set in motion.

It is easy to carry out the above described engagement of the stamp severing and allixing device completely automatically in such manner that the machine automatically dclivers stamps only when envelops are to be franked and postmarked and the postmarking device in this case may be automatically brought out of action to protect the corrcsponding supporting roll. For the first mentioned purpose the projection for operating the mechanism for feeding the stamp strip and of the severing device are mounted on a lever 82 (Fig. 0) pivotally mounted at 82 which is guided on the supporting roller 96. This lever is raised by an envelop passing between the roller 96 and the stamp box so that the disengaged projections move into the operative position in which they cause the feeding and severing of the stamps as hereinafter more particularly described. For the second purpose mentioned, by means of suitable rollers in the movement of the machine the roller 98 arranged opposite the canceling device 30 is moved backward so that it .cannot contact with the canceling device. By way of example the first device is shown in the accompanying Figs. 6 and 7, of which Fig. (5 shows to enlarged scale the stamp atlixing device and Fig. 7 shows a stamp box to still'larger scale. The stamp box is arranged according to Fig. 7 (for this purpose) in the following manner. The stamp strip 84 is moved over the feed roll 85 into a channel formed by the stripper 8G and a flap 87 from which it passes to the severing device 88. The flap 87 is under the action of a sprii'ig S7 and is provided at its forward end with a tooth 85) which rests against the 'pin or projection 90 on the severing device stamp strip in the channel as soon as the tooth 89 slides off the projection 90. In this manner "on the leaving 0a of the stamp lying on the operative surface of the stripper the stamp strip is prevented from being pulled out.

\Vith the projection 90 cooperates a pin 91 on a lever 82 pivotally suspended at 82 which lever is provided with a second pin 92. This serves for rotation of the feed wheel 93 of the feed roller 85. Beneath the pin S ll is mounted on the lever 82 a wheel 94- which runs in a corresponding groove 95 in the supporting roller 96 when envelops are not being supplied to the bands 4-. In this position of the lever 82 the pins 91 and 92 are moved so far that the projection 90 and the feed wheel 93 are not affected. If,

however, an envelop 97 be fed over the supporting roller 96 the roller 94 is raised and the lever 82 vibrated so that the pins 91 and 92 permit the feed and severing of stamps. As the canceling device is rotated simultaneously with the disk 10, if'there were no envelop between it and its supporting roller 98, the impression of the postmark would continuously be applied to this roller which then would smudge the back of the envelope 9?. In order to prevent this, the carrier 51 is provided with a projection fl which carries a vibrating member 99, on which are mounted two auxiliary rollers 100, 101. The

one roller 101 lies beneath the canceling device 30 while the other lies beneath a roller 102 arranged above the conveying bands 4 on the machine frame and provided with a groove 102* which roller is arranged somewhat in front of the canceling device 30 in the direction of motion of the upper stretch of the endless bands 4. ,The supporting roller 98 is provided with an annular rib 1.03 arranged concentrically with its axis and on which a shaft 101 presses the auxiliary roller 101 so long as the vibrating member 99 is not moved out of its position of rest (in which it is held by the tension spring 104) by the insertion of an envelop 97 between the rollers 100, 102.

The moclus opcrcmoz' of this arrangement is a follows: If the machine is set in motion, the disk 10 and the canceling device 30 rotate while the endless bands 4 are moved. So long as no envelop is carried by the bands the roller 94 engages the groove 95 in the roller 96 so that the lever 82 is held in inoperative position. The spring 104 draws the auxiliary roller 101 in consequence of the pressure of the auxiliary roller 100 opposite the roller 102 taking its purchase from the latter so that by the pressure transmitted through the shaft 101 and rib 103 the lever 51 with the roller 98 is drawn away from the surface of the canceling device 30 so that this does not transfer its ink to the roller 98. If now an envelop be inserted, it raises the roller 94 and brings the lever 82 into operative position. The projection 90 passes around the lower face of the pin 91 and therewith causes the severing device 88 to turn outwardly against the action of its depressing spring 88*, the stamp resting thereon being severed from the strip 84. At the same time the tooth 89 falls away from the projection 90 and the flap 87 nips the strip 84. On further rotation of the disk 10 the spring 88 restores the-severing device 88 to its normal position, the tooth 89 being raised and the channel beneaththe flap 8 being opened so that on further rotation of the disk 10 a further stamp can be pushed over the operative face of the severlng device 88 (in'conse'quence of the rotatlon of the feed wheel 93 by the pin 92). The

envelop is now led to the canceling device, first passing the rollers 100, 101. The roller 100 i here depressed and the element 99 vibrated, so that the roller 100 comes beneath the envelop 97. If the annular projection 103 be not complete, but be arranged in pieces, the rotation of the roller 98 relatively to the canceling device is so regulated that as soon as the face of the canceling device 30 comes against the supporting roller 98 the projection 103 engages in the laterally extended shaft 101 of the now raised auxiliary roller 101 so that the supporting roller 8 can again yield.

The stamp aflixing mechanism and the canceling device cooperate only when the endless bands 4 carry envelops, the envelope themselves thus effecting the engagement of the aflixing device with the canceling device.

I claim 1.' A machine for aliixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising in combination, a feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be stam ed through the machine, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the guide path of the postal matter and making said boxes directly, without intermediate parts, coact with the postal matter, a stamp canceling device and means for imparting movement to said feeding mechanism and to said rotary element and said canceling device.

2. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising in combination, an endless band provided with perforations, bars carried by said band and serving to support the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a stamp canceling device, and means for concurrently imparting movement to said band, rotating the said element, and actuating the cancellng device. v

3. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps, omprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, stripping devices, counting mechanism, and'se-vering devices fitted to said boxes, a rotary element-carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, i

a stamp canceling device, and means for concurrently imparting movement to the said band, rotating the said element, and actuating the canceling device.

4. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising in combmation, a feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be stamped through the machine, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicmlty of the guide path of the postal matter and making said boxes directly, Without intermediate parts, coact with the postal matter, a moistening device, a stamp canceling device and means for concurrently imparting movement to said feeding mechanism rotating said rotary element and actuating said canceling device.

5. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a Water receptacle, a spring-held pad for transferring Water from the receptacle to the stamps, a stamp canceling device, and means for concurrently imparting movement to said band, rotating said element, and actuating said canceling device.

6. A means for affixing and canceling postage stamps comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a rotary stamp canceling device, actuating mechanism for imparting movement to said band, mechanism for rotating said element and canceling device, and adjustable clutch devices interposed between said mechanisms.

7. A machine for affixing and canceling postagestamps comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, means for variably distending the band according to the thickness of the postal matter to be stamped, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a stamp canceling device and means for imparting movement to the said band, rotating the said element, and actuating the canceling device.

8. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, means for delivering stamps from said boxes, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a roller for supporting the band disposed on the side of the upper stretch of the band, opposite said rotary element, a stripper contacting With said roller, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to the said band, rotating the said element, and actuating said canceling device.

9. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes, arranged in the vicinity of the band, a moistening device, a stamp canceling device, means for imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, and means operated by the postal matter for determining the operation of the severing and canceling devices.

10. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, stamp delivering and severing devices, fitted to said boxes, nipping devices hinged to said boxes, a rotary element carrying said boxes, arranged in the vicinity of the band, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to said band, rotating the said element, and actuating the canceling device.

11. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in COllllJlllatlOll, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to receive the stamps, a plurality of boxes each containing a strip of stamps, means for delivering the stamps singly from the boxes, a rotary element carrying said boxes, said element arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, rotating said element, and actuating said canceling device.

12. A machine for allixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to receive the stamps, a plurality of boxes each containing a strip of stamps, means fitted to each stamp box comprising a spiked part adapted to enter the perforations between adjacent stamps, and to sever the stamps one by one, a moistening device, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to the feeding 1nechanism, rotating the element and actuating the canceling device.

13. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carry ing said boxes said element arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a severing device pivoted to each box provided with a lug and adapted to be operated on rotation of said element, a moistener adapted to moisten the stamp on movement of a stamp box past the moistener, a canceling device, and means for imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, rotating said element and actuating said canceling device.

14. A machine for allixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a moistening device, a stamp canceling device, and means for con-- currently imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, rotating the said element, and actuating said canceling device.

15. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps comprising, in combination, feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the feedin mechanism, a Water receptacle, a spring held ad for transferring water from the receptac e to the stamps, a stamp canceling device, and means for concurrently imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, rotating said element, and actuating said canceling device.

16. Means for afiixing and canceling postage stamps comprising, in combination, an endless feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a rotary stamp canceling devlce, actuating mechanism for rotating said element and canceling device, and ad ustable clutch devices for said mechanism. I

17. A machine for aflixing and canceling postage stamps comprising, in combination,

feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, means for variably distending the feedin mechanism according to the thickness of t e postal matter to be stamped, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, a rotary element carrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a stamp canceling device and means for imparting movement to the said feedin mechanism, rotating the said element, and actuating the canceling device.

18. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination, an endless band for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing stamps, means for delivering stamps from said boxes, a rotary elementcarrying said boxes arranged in the vicinity of the band, a roller for supporting the band disposed on the side of the upper stretch of the band, opposite said rotary element, a stripper contacting with said roller, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to the said band, rotating the said element, and actuating said canceling device.

19. A machine for affixing and canceling postage stamps, com rising, in combination, feeding mechanism or conveying the postal matter to be franked,a plurality of boxes each containing a strip of stamps, means for delivering the stamps singly from the boxes,

a device for moistening the stamps one at a;

time, means for putting into and out of engagementthe stamp delivery means, a rotary element carrying said boxes, a canceling device, andmeans for moving said feeding mechanism, rotating said element and actuating said canceling device.

20. A machine for afiixing and canceling postage stamps, comprising, in combination. feeding mechanism for conveying the postal matter to be franked, a plurality of boxes containing said stamps, a rotary element carryin said-boxes, arranged in the vicinity of theceding mechanism, a moistening device, a stamp canceling device, means for imparting movement to said feeding mechping devices hinged to said boxes, a rotary element carrying said boxes, arranged in the vicinity of the feeding mechanism, a stamp canceling device, and means for imparting movement to said feeding mechanism, rotating the said element, and actuating the canceling device.

22. A machine for afiixing and cancellng postage stamps,-comprising, in combination, a traveling endless band, a rotary element arranged inf-the vicinity of the band, means for simultaneously imparting movement to said band and said element, boxes carried by said element, each box cont-alning a strip of stamps, means for delivering the stamps,

one at a time from said boxes and transferring them to postal matter, a canceling de- Vice, a rollercooperating with said canceling device and means dependent for its operation on the passage of an artlcle to be 'franked for moving said roller.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLF STEIN.

Witnesses JEAN GRUND, CARL GRUND. 

